In 1683, a private collection of natural history curiosities was donated to the University of Oxford. The collection was later opened to the public. The Ashmolean Museum thus became the first permanent public exhibition housed by a corporation.
The act of “opening art to the public” simultaneously closes its definition to the commons; explicitly defining both space and art as exclusive and invulnerable.
As with any establishment – be they media, church or government – the richest of galleries are canonized, to the point where the public’s role and contribution is reduced to passive observer.
If we are to understand that art is the great measure of our culture we must also acknowledge it is owned, valued and defined by 'the elite.' We must also recognize then that the term “open to the public” is not an invitation, but a declaration of values. Values that are not our own. And so it has remained for 335 years. Until now.
Welcome to MoMAR. An unauthorized gallery concept aimed at democratizing physical exhibition spaces, museums, and the curation of art within them. MoMAR is non-profit, non-owned, and exists in the absence of any privatized structures.
The project is open source, instructions readily available on momar.gallery/opensource and very much open to the public.
Building on the work of other artists who have invaded contemporary art spaces, we aimed at democratizing physical exhibition spaces, museums, and the curation of art within them. Here are some we want to acknowledge:
Sander Veenhof and Mark Skwarek, www.sndrv.nl/moma
Manifest.AR, Venice Biennial intervention: www.manifestarblog.wordpress.com
Tamiko Thiel, All Hail Damien Hirst!: www.allhaildamienhirst.com
Please send us other AR projects that we can include here Send Links
Gallery
Welcome to MoMAR. An unauthorized gallery concept aimed at democratizing physical exhibition spaces, museums, and the curation of art within them. MoMAR is non-profit, non-owned, and exists in the absence of any privatized structures. MoMAR uses Augmented Reality to overlay art onto existing artwork and frames housed in museums and gallery spaces around the world.
Downloading the MoMAR app, visitors hold their phones over specified frames and spaces in order to view alternate artwork, and MoMAR exhibits.
Download the MoMAR app below:
Staff
Damjanski
Damjanski is an artist living in a browser and co-founder and member of the incubation collective Do Something Good.
Link
Monique Baltzer
Monique Baltzer is fascinated by the narrative capabilities of immersive reality, she creates VR experiences. She is also a graphic designer.
Link
David Lobser
David Lobser lives in Brooklyn and makes Work, mostly with 3D graphics. Work is defined as a measure of energy transfer that occurs when an object is moved over a distance by an external force. Work is a commodity that involves sweat and is an activity for people that wear shirts with blue collars. David Lobser creates multi-user VR experiences, VR experiences for therapy, and short narrative pieces.
Link
Vicky Leung
Vicky Leung is a 3D generalist who is always looking to try new things to expand her skillset.
Link
Visit Us
MoMAR is located in the former Jackson Pollock room, The Estée and Joseph H. Lauder Gallery on the 5th floor. We chose the room for two significant reasons. Firstly, it is part of the permanent collection and used to remain unchanged within the walls of the museum. Secondly, it has a bench.
The gallery is open seven days a week from 10:30am – 5:30pm.
Our restaurants and stores
have different hours.